Resources for Administrators, Teachers, and Music Professionals

The following materials were collected in response to suggestions from administrators to house this information in a single location. This work is the result of a collaboration between the Department of Education and the Iowa High School Music Association with input from the K-16 Music Summit, a collaborative organization with representation from professional music organizations (Iowa Choral Directors Association, Inc., Iowa Band Masters Association, Iowa String Teachers Association, Iowa Music Educators Association, and Iowa college/university music education programs).

Music education prepares students for success:

in school.

in work.

in life.

Music Matters: How Music Education Helps Students Learn, Acheive, and Succeed – Beyond the intrinsic value of music
to cultures worldwide, education in music has benefits for young people that transcend the musical domain. The Arts Education Partnership (AEP) reviewed an extensive body of research to identify highquality, evidence-based studies that document student learning outcomes associated with an education in and through music. The results show conclusively that music education equips students with the foundational abilities to learn, to achieve in other core academic subjects, and to develop the capacities, skills and knowledge essential for lifelong success. The Arts Education Partnership, a division of the Council of Chief State School Officers, is dedicated to securing a high quality arts education for every young person in America. A national coalition of more than 100 education, arts, cultural, government, business, and philanthropic organizations, AEP was created in 1995 by the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Department of Education and is administered by the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.

What is required?

Iowa Administrative Code (Chapter 12: General Accreditation Standards) – What does Iowa Administrative Code say about accreditation standards for teaching music and what courses must be offered?

The Model of Excellence Mentor Program – The Model of Excellence Mentor Program is designed to improve the quality of arts education through mentoring of first-year arts teachers. This program is administrated through the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education, funded through a federal teacher quality grant that focuses on mentorship from the Iowa Department of Education. The program is designed to enhance, not supplant the established local/district/state mentoring programs. The mentor relationship is tailored specifically to the individual teacher and teaching situation. The information shared ranges from “survival” to “mastery” skills needed to be successful in the arts classroom, and provides for networking with other first-year and veteran teachers throughout the state of Iowa.Program innovations include: identification of first-year teachers, assignment of both “active” and “observation” mentors (area-specific), development of a communications network to assist the mentoring process, development of a first-year teachers symposium, and the awarding of scholarships to join professional organizations and attend state conferences.

Tips for Success – is a collection of ideas, strategies, and advice compiled to aid music educators and administrators over a variety of topics related to music education. A must have for the young teacher!